When a player becomes unrated, he is either placed back on his team's prospect list or is released, depending on his age (in SICHL years - see 1.2.2.1 Player Age). Players younger than 30 years old are placed onto the team's prospect list. Players aged 30 and older are deemed retired and are released from their team. If a retired player ever returns to the league, he will do so as an unrestricted free agent, and his previous team will have no rights to him whatsoever.
Player contracts may be bought out at any time for an amount equal to one-half of the remaining value of the contract. Players who have officially retired from the NHL may be bought out at no cost. Contracts of players no longer playing the NHL (i.e. the player goes to Europe) may also be bought out at no cost, at the discretion of the Commissioner.
Any player who retires from the NHL will only be available to play in the SICHL for one more season after their real-life retirement. (i.e. a player who retires from the NHL during or after the 1999-2000 season will play his last season in the SICHL during the 2000-2001 season). Players who are on a team's "In The System" list may be retired for free at any time by sending a request to commish@sichl.com.